Five more fight prison’s equity plan

Five more Western Cape correctional services officials are challenging the department's employment equity plan, it was reported on Friday.

The Cape Times reported that the department was served with papers on Thursday, with the pre-trial to be heard in the Cape Town Labour Court later on Friday.

The applicants, all coloured, are challenging the equity targets which are based on national demographics rather than provincial targets.

The correctional services target in the Western Cape is the same as every other province: 79.3 percent target for black staff, 9.3 percent for whites, 8.8 percent for coloureds and 2.5 percent for Indians.

According to the report, the applicants are Desiree Merkeur, Teresa Abrahams, Deidre Jordaan, Jan Kotze and Derick Wehr.

The court papers reportedly state: “Their appointment was declined solely on the grounds of their race or gender or both and because it would have resulted in a deviation from the department's employment equity plan.”

The respondents are the department, its national commissioner Tom Moyane, Correctional Services Minister S'bu Ndebele and the office of Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant.

The court application follows a separate landmark case by five employees that seeks to have the equity plan struck down. Both bids are being backed by trade union Solidarity.

Lawyers are expected to file papers in the same court later on Friday for the second matter. - Sapa